Canberra Day Oration 2023: Dr Ken Heffernan

The Canberra & District Historical Society proudly presents the 2023 Canberra Day Oration.

Dr Ken Heffernan will deliver the 2023 address, ‘Canberra’s heritage in transition: A place for engagement and thought’.

About the speaker
Dr Ken Heffernan was born, raised and schooled in Canberra. Dr Heffernan conducted archaeological impact assessments in the Canberra region until the mid 1990s, then ran a project for the NSW Parks Aboriginal Heritage Division. He joined the Australian Heritage Commission in 1998 and over the next 15 years was responsible at different times for various historic heritage sites, committees and legislation.

Dr Heffernan served on the inaugural ACT Heritage Council as a member and later Deputy Chair (1992-1997). He was appointed to the Heritage Council in 2017, becoming Deputy Chair then Chair until his resignation in 2022.

About the Canberra Day Oration
From foundation in 1953, the Canberra & District Historical Society has promoted the annual observance of Canberra Day on 12 March. In the following years the Society celebrated Canberra Day in a variety of ways, including Pioneer Gatherings, exhibitions, essay competitions, orations and commemorations at the Commencement Stone. From 2002 the Society re-introduced the Canberra Day Oration, with Professor Don Aitkin as the first orator. Since then, the Canberra Day Oration has been an annual event, held on 12 March.